Hub structure for wheels



E. G BUDDET AL.

HUB STRUCTURE FOR WHEELS 2 Shiva-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 6. 1916 HUB STRUCTURE FOR WHEELS Fil p Q 1916 2 shun-sheet 2 Patented Sept. 2, 1924.

PATENT OFFICE.

UNITED STATES EDWARD G. BU'DD AND JOSEPH LEDWINK A, OI PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, AS-

BIGNORS, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, "1'0 BUDD WHEN COMPANY, 01' PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPOEATIONDF PENNSYLVANIA.

nun srnucrunn r012. 'wnms.

, Application filed September 8, 1918. Serial 110. 118,716.

To all whom it may concern: Be'it'known that we, EDWARD G. Bonn and JosEPH LEDWINKA, citizens of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have made a certain new and useful Invention in Hub Structure for Wheels, of which the following is a specification. This invention relates to hub structures for wire spoked or other wheels.

The object of the invention is to provide a hub structure for wheels which is simple, economical to manufacture, and efiicient in operation. I A further object of the invention is to provide a hub structure for wheels which perm'itsthe wheel tobe readily detachable from its supporting hub, and replaceable thereon, and when replaced upon its hub to be clamped and secured thereon.

A further object of the inventionis to rovide means for locking the detachable w eel upon its carrying hub, the lockin means being released by the application of a spanner or other suitable tool to release the clamping nut.

Other objects of the invention more fully hereinafter.

The invention consists substantially in the 0 construction, combination, location and relat1ve arrangement of parts, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, as shown in the accompanyingdrawings, and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

88 Referring to the accompanying .drawwill I appear Fig. 1 is a view in central longitudinal section showing a hub structure embodying the pr1nc1ples of our invention, and as applied to a wire spoked wheel.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the hub. Fig. 3 is a broken detail view in section on the line 3, 3, Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a similar view in section onthe line 4, 4, Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 5 is a similar view on the line 5, 5, Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 6 is a detached broken detail view in top plan of the wedge segments em loyed to clamp the detachable wheel hub in p ace.

Fig. 7 is a broken detail view in end eleva- 12. This is in the tion partly in section, showing a means for attaching the wire spokes to the wheel hub.

Fig. 8 IS a view in end elevation of the permanent hub member. Fig. 9 is a view in section on the line 9, 9, Fig. 8, looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 10 is a detail view in section on the line 10, 10, Fig. 1, looking'in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 11 is a broken view in longitudinal section, showing a modified structure embraced'within our invention.

The same part is designated by the same reference numeral wherever it occurs throughout the several views.

In structures of vehicle wheels,such as are employed extensively in connection with motor vehicles, and particularly wheels of the wire spoke type, it is desirable to provide means by which the, wheel may be readily detachable and removable from its hub, and quickly and easily applied thereto and securely clamped in place in such manner as to be locked in position when applied. It is also desirable to provide means to prevent the accidental disengagement or release of the locking means, by reason of the backing oil of the clamping'nut usually employed in connection with the locking device, through jolts or otherwise. It is also desirable, to

provide a hub structure'for detachable or demountable wheels, which is simple, economlcal to manufacture and efiicient in operation.

It is among the special purposes. of our present invention to provide a hub structure 7 for detachable, demountable wheels WlllOh secures the advantages and desirable characteristics referred to, and others, in a most simple. economical and efiicient manner.

In the drawings we have shown practical embodiments of our .invention :wherein 11 designates a vehicle axle. This may be either a front steering axle or a rear drlvin axle, and our invention is notto be restricte or limited in this respect. Suitably mounted uponthe axle 11 is a ermanent hub member orm of a shell which is journaled upon the 'axle with, if desired, anti-friction. roller bearings 13 interposed. The hub member 12 is provided w th ex} terior engagin surfaces 14, shown, in this instance, as p ane inclined surfaces, upon which is seated correspondingly shaped sur-1 26, engage.

faces of the outer hub member 15, thereby forming the driving connection between the hub members 12 and 15. The outer hub member 15 is provided at its inner end with a flange 16, the edge of which is deflected laterally therefrom and formed into portions 17, ressed out of the-peripheral plane of said e ge portion to afford means for receiving and anchoring the hub ends of the inner spokes 18 in such manner as to enable said spokes tohave the pro er tangential line or angle of inclination without causing them to be bent when suitably anchored at their other ends in the rim 19. In like manner the outer end of the hub member 15 is formed with portions 20 in its eripheral surface which are pressed out of t e peripheral plane of said hub portions to receive and anchor the outer spokes 21, which connect the hub member 15 and rim 19.

The hub member'15 is formed with an outer end wall 22 which constitutes a housing for the nut 23, which nut is threaded onto the outer exteriorly, threaded end of hub member 12. Encirclm the outer end of hub member 12, and suitab y retained thereon are wedge segments These wedge segments may-be maintained in assembled re ation in any suitable or convenient manner. A simple arrangement is shown wherein said segments are strung upon an expansible retaining ring 25 which passes through central openm formed through the segments 24. Th s ring may be retained in position in any convenient manner. A simple arrangement is shown wherein links over the retaining ring 25, and are held in place by studs 27, enga 'ng shoulders formed on the inner edges of Ihgs 28, on the hub member 12. Thls arrangement affords a flexibility to the wedge members 24, permitting them to be forced radially outward and into bearing contact with an inclined shoulder or surface 29, on the outer hub member 15, to lock the same to the inner hub member 12. The wedge blocks 24 are forced outwardly'to accomplish their locking function by the inclined inner surface of the screw on s 23, when the latter is screwed onto-the t readed end of the hub member 12. v v

. In order to detach and remove the wheel from the permanent hub member 12, the screw cap 23 is backed ofi thereby permittingl thg expansible ring 25, wlnch retains t e wedge blocks 24, to contract and thereby causin a release of the engagement of the wed e locks with the inclined surface 29 of t e outer hub member 15. en this is done the hub member 15, and with it the Wheel structure, includin the spokes andrim, may be readily and cam slipped off from the hub member 12. In like manner in order to replace a wheel upon the hub 12, its hub 15 is slip over the permanent hub member 12, and the screw cap 23 is then applied and turned up, so that its inclined inner surface 30 engages the wedge blocks 24, and forces them outwardly against the inclined surface 29, the expansion of the retaining ring 25, permitting this, thereby locking the hub member 15, in place.

In the operation of vehicle wheels it sometimes hap ens that a cap nut 23, by means of which t e wheel is retained upon its hub, becomes accidentally backed ofi through jolts, jars, or the like, thereby releasing the wheel and permitting the latter to leave its carrying hub. To prevent this we propose to employ a suitable lock arrangement for locking the nut in position when sufiiciently screwed up to clamp the wheel upon its hub. A simple arrangement of lock is shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 10 consisting of a pawl 31, pivotally mounted between its ends upon a lug 32, carried by the inner end wall 0 cap 23. One end of pawl 31 is arranged to engage ratchet teeth 33, formed on the outer end of ermanent hub member 12.

The other end of pawl 31 is engaged by a stud or button 34, which works t rough an opening formed centrally throu wall of cap 23. A spring 35 carrie by lug 32, acts u on the button 34, to yieldingly maintain t e same pressed outwardly and the other end of pawl 31 pressed into to engage a ratchet tooth 33. en the cap 23 is screwed onto the end of hub member 12, the teeth 33, an engages the said ratchet teeth to dprevent the unscrewing of said cap. In or er to permit the cap to be unscrewed the button 34 is pressed inwardly thereb releasing the pawl 31 from en aging wit the ratchet teeth 33, and then t e cap 23 may be unscrewed. Ordinarily the cap 23 is screwed on or off by means of a spanner bar or other convenient tool having rongs which are received in the sockets 36, ormed in the outer surface of the cap. By providh the end osition (pawl 31 rides overthe ratchet lllii ing the s anner with an additional projection whic will enter the opening in which the button 34 operates at the same time the prongs are seated in the sockets 36, it will e seen that the application of the spanner or back it off will t e pawl 31.

to the nut to turn it u automatically release In Fig. 11 is illustrated a slightly modified arrangement wherein the wheel is plied to a rear or driving axle. In this arran 'ement the axle 40 issuitably engaged to the inner hub member 41, to drive the same as for exam le, through the intermeshing portions 42, t e outer hub member 43 remaining in essential res ects like the hub member 15 above describe In the modification shown in Fig. 11, however, the hub ends of the spokes are secured'in blocks 44 which are seated in openings formed through the shell of hub member 43, instead of pressing out shown apthe metal of said shell, as above explained. In the modified arrangement a slightly different retaining means for the screw cap 23 is employed. In this arran ement the end surface of the axis 40 is provided with serrations 45, with which engage cooperating ser-' is prevented by the frictiona engagement of the serrations 45, 46, which, however, does not substantially interfere with the screwing up of said nut. The advantage of this arrangement is that a special tool is not required to release the retaining means.

From the foregoing description it will be ,seen that we provide an exceedingly simple structure of hub for detachable wheels which offers no serious manufacturing problems, or

difiiculties, and therefore which can be manufactured cheaply and economically. It will also be seen that we provide a structure which permits a wheel to be quickly, readily and easily applied to its carrying hub and locked in place, ut which, at'the same time, permits quick, ready and easy detachment of the wheel from its hub, and wherein when the wheel is once a plied and locked in position it is retained tl ferein without danger of becoming accidentally released.

Having now set forth the objects and nature of our invention, and constructions embodying the rinciples thereof, we wish to be understood t at variations and alterations in the details of parts and other arrangements may readily occur to persons skilled in the art and still fall within the spirit andscope of our invention. We'do not desire therefore to be limited or restricted to the exact details shown and described. But what we claim as new and useful and of our own invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

- 1. In a wheel structure, a permanent hub member having outwardly tapering seating surfaces, a removable hub member having coperating seating surfaces, at its inner end,

and an outwardly flared bearingsurface at its outer end, a nut threaded upon the outer end of said permanent hub member and having an inwardly tapered or inclined inner end surface, wedge b ocks interposed between said hub members to be engaged by the tapered or inclined surface of the nut, said wedge blocks engaging the outwardly flared bearmg surface of the outer hub member to lock sa d hub member upon the seating surfaces of the permanent hub member, and an expansible ring threaded through said wedge blocks to retain the same in position.

2. In a wheel structure, a permanent hub V blocks,

member having seating surfaces, a removable hub member having co-operating seating surfaces, a nut threaded upon the outer end of said permanent hub member and having an inclined inner end surface, wedge blocks interposed between said hub members to be en a ed by said inclined surface, said wedge b 00 s engaging .the outer hub member to lock the same upon said seating surfaces. an expansible retaining ring for said wedge blocks, a lug on the permanent hub member, and means engaging said lug and ring to retain said ring in position.

3. In a wheel structure, a permanent hub member having seating surfaces, a removable hub member having coo erating seating surfaces, a nut for the end 0 said permanent hub member andhaving an inclined inner end surface, wedge blocks interposed between said hub members to be engaged by said inclined surface, said wedge blocks engaging the outer hub member to lock the .same upon said seating surfaces, an expansible retaining ring engaging said wedge members to retain the same in assembled relation, and retaining links engaging said expansible ring. v

4. In a wheel structure, a ermanent hub member havin seating sur aces, a removable hub mem or having cooperating seating surfaces, a nut for the end of said permanent hub member and havin an inclined inner end surface, wedge bloc s interposed between said hub members to be engaged by said inclined surface, said wedge locks engaging the outer hub member to lock the same upon said seating surfaces, an expansible retainin rin for said wedge links engaging said retaining rin and lugs formed on said permanent hu member to hold said links.

5. In a wheel structure, the combination of an inner hub member having a tapered seat of polygonal cross section, an outer hub member having, near its inner end, a co? 0 crating seat of similar cross section and,

a jacent its outer end, an outwardly inclined conical surface, a nut threaded on the inner hub member and having a ta ered conical nose,a plurality of wedge bloc s interposed between the nose of said nut and the conical surface of said outer hub member, and yielding means for retaining said wedge blocks in positionq' 6. In a wheel structure, the combination I of an inner hub member having a tapered seat of olygonal cross; section, .an outer hub mem r having near its inner end, a co- 0 rating seat of similar cross-section and, a jacent its outer end, .an outwardly inclined conical surface, a nut threaded on the inner hub member and having an expansible member interposed between said nose and the conical surface on said ou/ter hub member.

a conical nose, and i 7. In a wheel structure, the combination of an inner hub member having a tapered seat of polygonal cross-section, an outer hub member having, near its inner end, a cooperatin f seat of similar cross-section, an expansib e member interposed between said inner and outer hub members, and a nut threaded on one of said members and en aging said expansible member and operab e to force the same into locking engagement with said hub members.

8. In a wheel of the class described, the combination of an inner hub, an outer hub removably mounted thereon, means preventin relative rotatative movement of said hu s, a combined hub cap and nut screwed on said inner hub and exerting an axia thrust on said outer hub, the outer face-of said nut bein flush with the outer end of said outer hu and a latch carried by and enclosed within said nut and engagin cooperating locking portions on said inner w ab.

9. In a wheel of the class described, the

1 gust A. n, 1916.

combination of an inner hub, an outer hub removably mounted thereon, means preventin relative rotatative -movement of said hu s, said inner hub havin a cylindrical outer end screw-threaded an provided with a flurality of ratchet teeth extendin paralle to the axis, a nut closing the en of the inner hub screwed on said screw-threaded portion of the inner hub and clam ing said outer hub in place, the outer face 0 said nut being flush with the outer end of said outer hub, and a latch carried by said nut and engaging said ratchet teeth.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in the iresence of the subscribing witnesses, on t is 30th day of Au- EDWARD e. BUDD. JOSEPH LEDWINKA.

Witnesses:

L. R. Hmmnn, A. H. BmAUM. 

